School dances are the most fun, most exciting, and least stressful events you can work as a DJ. There is a reason that they made #1 on my top 6 money-making DJ events list. They can be incredibly lucrative if you do a great job and stay connected to the school throughout the year. Imagine an event that pays nearly as well as a wedding that you can book multiple times per year. In fact, if you get yourself set up right, these gigs practically book themselves. That’s what the school dance can bring you.
And the Mack Daddy of all school dances is a prom. Now, you aren’t likely to get booked for a prom as your first school dance. You’ll need to work your way up from a school’s smaller events before you can lock down a prom. But, I’m going to teach you everything I know about DJing a prom because all of these steps transfer to all school dances, just on a smaller scale.
There are seven areas you need to master to successfully DJ a prom:
- Getting Booked
- Planning Your Set
- What To Bring
- Arrival & Setup
- Playing Your Set
- Taking Requests
- Dealing With Teenagers
- Getting Rehired
Getting Booked
Getting booked for a school dance starts with knowing who the players are. The school itself has three layers of decision-makers: the planning committee, the faculty sponsor and the school district. The planning committee is made up of students who are in charge of planning a specific dance. These can be all new students each year, or some coming back from previous years. The faculty sponsor acts as the head of the planning committee. He or she keeps the students on track and makes sure the dance actually happens. The school district will have specific qualifications for vendors, like background checks. You will need to comply with all of their rules.
There is a fourth player in this decision process: the incumbent DJ. This is whomever the school used for their last dance. Sometimes the kids will love them, sometimes hate them, sometimes they won’t even remember them. The incumbent is your competition, but never put them down. Just show how you can do a better job.
My approach strategy is to start with research. Find out as much as you can from the following list:
- Your local schools’ dance calendar
- Each school’s faculty sponsor (sometimes called a faculty advisor)
- Each school district’s rules
- The incumbent DJs
Build this list for 5 or 6 high schools in your area and figure out where the opportunity might be. Make sure you can qualify under the school district’s vendor rules, and get yourself approved before you approach a school if possible. Research any incumbents to see what level of service, DJ skills and price point they are providing. Then, contact the school and arrange a meeting with the faculty sponsor. Use your sales process to convince them to present you to the student committee. Differentiate yourself from their current DJ by showing what you could do better, or how you would cost less. Know that you aren’t going to be able to close just the faculty sponsor, as the students will be driving the decision as well.
You can do this exact same process with elementary and middle schools as well, if you have trouble breaking into the high schools. The faculty will be more in control at younger ages. And, you should face easier competition. Once you build a reputation and history in a specific district, it’s a simple matter of making your pitch to the next school. It’s also easier to go after independent schools, like charters or private schools. Smaller schools have fewer layers of bureaucracy to convince, and the faculty sponsor doesn’t change as much from year to year.
Spend some time and effort making these connections and pitching to schools. Breaking into just one school can yield up to four major dances a year, not to mention the potential for pep rallies, fundraisers and more.
Planning Your Set
Choosing songs
The songs you need for school dances are similar to those you would use for a wedding, anniversary party or any other event that is focused on dancing. School dance music will skew much younger than your average crowd, however. You will need to be up-to-date on the latest music fads and songs from pop, hip hop and dance radio. In the past few years, there has also been a huge push of popularity from social media sites. Top 50 charts in streaming services like Spotify and Pandora can guide you to some of these less-mainstream songs, but I usually let the students guide me on the bleeding-edge dance fads.
Speaking of students, you will likely get a request list from your planning committee. Expect this to be very late in your planning process. I’ve received final requests lists as late as the night before prom. Don’t let this stress you out. They are just kids after all. A quick tip to combat this issue: ask the faculty sponsor to have the kids send a “draft” request list very early, and give them a deadline for adding new songs.
You can build out the majority of your playlist in advance and add additional songs at the last minute. This is also a great reason to have a streaming service built into you DJ software. That way you can take requests you didn’t bring with you at the last minute. If you don’t have a streaming music service yet, you need one today! Here are my recommendations for your best choices in the post-Spotify era.
Don’t forget as well to bring clean, radio-edited tracks for all of your songs. This is typically a requirement of most schools. Be doubly sure that any tracks you are streaming are edited versions as well. Anytime I get a request that I don’t know personally, I just search for the lyrics on my phone to make sure it’s clean. I’ve even had schools request that I avoid songs with overly suggestive lyrics, even without swearing. When in doubt, run a song by your faculty sponsor first.
General Structure
Your playlists should be mostly dance tunes. Kids are going to want to dance the majority of the evening. Bring what you need to keep the dance floor moving. But, don’t forget to build in some slow dance sets too. This is a big date night for most of the couples. They will want some romantic music. And, while this is very true for high school, you’ll need less and less slow music as you go down in age. Middle school students will barely dance as couples, and you won’t need any for elementary schools.
You may also have some announcements or scheduled events for bigger dances like prom and homecoming. Things like king and queen, special thanks, awards, etc. You may get this list ahead of time, but don’t expect it. Professional party planners do not run school dances. You have to be ready to go with the flow. Have your microphone ready to go and just roll with it.
Mixing Style
While your playlist will lean towards pop radio, your mixing style should be more like a club DJ. Yes, you can get by with smooth fades all night. But if you have any beatmatching muscles, now’s the time to flex them. Younger kids dream of going out to clubs. You get to bring the club to them for one night. Keep the beat going strong and you’ll do just fine.
What to Bring?
Full Mobile DJ Setup
Like any mobile DJ gig, you’ll need your full mobile DJ setup. This includes speakers, cables, stands, extension cords, power strips, and table – basically everything. Assume that your venue has nothing. You’ll likely be performing in a gym, auditorium, or out at some convention space. They will provide power and a table. That’s about it. Here is the complete list of everything you need to DJ a school dance:
- Music
- Laptop & Controller, or All-in-One DJ System (CDJs, Turntables, etc.)
- Mixer
- Wired and/or Wireless Microphones
- DJ Headphones
- Portable DJ Booth or DJ Table with Linens
- Speakers
- Speaker Stands
- Speaker Cables
- Extension Cables
- Power Strip
- Hand Truck (optional)
- DJ Lighting (optional)
I’ve got my mobile setup down to the slimmest useful version. If you’re new to the mobile game, do yourself a huge favor and read my post on 17 DJ Gear Essentials. If you have something from each bullet, you’ll have everything you need for a school dance.
All of the Lights
School dances are the right time to bust out every light you own. You’re going to need wash lights, effect lights, spots, strobes, and anything else you can throw at them. Think club or festival level. The bigger your light show, the more energy you can get from the students. And, than more fun they have, the more likely you’ll be remembered when it’s time to hire another DJ.
Fog? Maybe Not
You run into some potential issues with fog and haze. You do really need them to make the light show pop. You won’t get those awesome-looking beams of light without some haze in the air. But, I personally don’t use fog or haze, and here’s why. Fog or haze effects can trigger many commercial smoke detectors. Setting off a smoke alarm is a disaster, and it only gets worse if you trigger the sprinkler system! That is far too much risk for me, so I avoid fog and haze all together. Be sure to talk to the venue in advance if you are planning to use any fog or haze. And make sure your insurance will cover any damage. Or, maybe just don’t use any. Your call.
Arrival & Setup
I’ve written extensively about the arrival and setup process in my complete guide to DJing a wedding. Much of this is exactly the same for school dances, especially prom. Be sure to read that post completely if you haven’t already. I’m not going to repeat everything here. I’ll just summarize and point out some differences specific to school dances.
I will repeat the very first item, because it is both so important and completely ignored by many DJs. Be early! My high school choir director always said, “To be early is to be on time. To be on time is to be late.” Don’t be late, don’t be on time, be early. This mantra is so ingrained in my mind that I start freaking out if I’m not 15 minutes earlier than the 90 minutes before an event that I plan for.
The rest of my advice should also be self-evident at this point. Dress professional, even when you are setting up. Get the lay of the land before you start moving your gear in. Meet with your faculty sponsor and the other vendors. Get yourself set and ready to go at least 15 minutes before guests arrive. School dances often come together at the last minute. Expect the dance committee to be running around decorating and dealing with final setup. Find out where you are supposed to set up and get going. Don’t expect a lot of direction from the dance committee. They will be busy.
Get your gear in place, paying special attention to safety. Make sure that cords are secure. Set your speakers up far enough from both you and the dance floor so that kids aren’t tempted to stand right in front of them. Position your table to discourage students from walking behind it. I’m all for encouraging budding DJs, and I’m happy to give tours of my gear. I just don’t want them touching without my permission. I always use my frontboard at a dance to keep both hands and drinks away from my gear. Set up a spot for your request list far enough away from your table to discourage conversation while you are mixing, but close enough that you can keep an eye on it.
After you are all set up, sound check your gear and get dressed. You can cause significant damage if you don’t check your gear properly, so visit my guide if you want to learn how to do it right.If you are ready to go early (which you should be!), check in with dance committee and see if you can help with anything else. I always earn extra respect just by carrying a few chairs or hanging some lights. Throw on some upbeat background music, then walk around and be helpful. Somebody somewhere will be freaking out at the last minute. Help them. It’s an easy way to go above and beyond, and it plants the seeds to help you get rehired.
Playing Your Set
A school dance set will play like a mix between a club set and a wedding. Plan ahead in your mix so that you are matching the energy of the crowd. Start off the evening with some slower tempo or lesser-known songs. It will almost be background music as the students arrive. They are going to want to chat with their friends, compare outfits and take photos. This is a great time to get on the mic and introduce yourself. Mention your company name and your process for taking requests (see below for details).
Drop that first floor-filling track once you reach a reasonable crowd of students. It shouldn’t be much effort to get people dancing because that’s what they came to do. Sometimes you will have a shy group, especially with younger students. Use your DJ skills to break open the dance floor. If this stresses you out, I’ve put together my 14 favorite secrets for filling a dance floor. I’ll bet there’s at least one trick you don’t know even if you’ve been DJing for years. Print that post out and stick it in your DJ bag. It’ll save your set one night.
Structure your set into mini-sets with the same tempo or genre. String together 4 to 6 similar songs, then switch it up and go a different direction. Your crowd will have some diverse tastes that all want to be represented. Make sure you play a little bit for everyone. Use your requests as a guide. Watch which kids are asking for which songs, and who they are hanging out with. This will give you a guide as to what music will get which students to dance. Don’t forget to work in a decent number of slow songs, especially for high school dances.
Taking Requests
You should absolutely be taking requests at a school dance. Students will be lining up to tell you what they want to hear. Using a request sheet on a clipboard is my favorite method. I set it on a table away from my DJ booth to limit the number of times I am interrupted. Kids have smartphones now, so you won’t have to help them think of song names. I also like that they can see if a song has already been requested.
If you want to get super-techno-fancy, you can have students request songs electronically. Simply post a sign with your social media account or a phone number to text. Virtual DJ even has a feature to send messages directly to your DJ software through a web address. Keep in mind that you will be getting messages from teenagers, so they may have questionable content. Maybe don’t give them your actual cell phone number…
Dealing With Teenagers
Speaking of teenagers, you are going to be performing in a sea of hormones and adolescence. Take it all in stride. They might say or do something dumb. They might get angry with you if you don’t play their song. They might request something completely inappropriate. Above all, be professional. Treat them like they were your own family. They’re going through a pretty difficult phase of life. Give them respect, understanding and kindness. If anybody gets really out of line, get help from one of the teachers or a chaperone.
Getting Rehired
If you are courteous, professional and the kids love you, you’re very likely to get hired for the next dance. Bring your DJ A-game: show up on time, ready to go and rock the house. Make sure there is no reason they wouldn’t rehire you. Make sure you avoid all of my 6 DJ mistakes that can cost you bookings (if you don’t know what I’m talking about, read that link right now!). That stuff is just the bare minimum, the “price of admission” if you will. To get rehired in a school setting, you need to conquer three obstacles: new decision makers, competition and time apart.
New Decision Makers
The people who hired you for this dance won’t stay the same. You will get a new group of students on the planning committee at least. Your faculty sponsor will also change, but not every year. You need to continue to sell your services to this new group of people.
Start right away. After the last dance is done, check in with your faculty sponsor. Make sure they had a terrific experience, and see if you can do anything better for the next time. This is a great time to get a review or testimonial to add to your website. Make this phone call 90% about checking in and making sure the dance exceeded their expectations. That last 10% is just a few quick questions about the next potential dance. Just a moment or two at the end of the call where you ask, “Oh, by the way, I see the [whatever] dance is coming up next on the calendar. Are you going to be the faculty sponsor for that one as well?” Gather some basic info on who will be in charge of the next dance and when the planning might start.
You are now the incumbent, but that doesn’t mean you’re guaranteed the next job. Check back every so often to find out how the next planning process is going, and who your contacts will be. You have the upper hand because at least someone at the school has seen your work first hand.
Time Apart
The adage “Absence makes the heart grow fonder,” does not apply to business. Absence makes your customers forget about you. You need to find ways to politely stand in front of the decision makers. It’s a delicate balance to be persistent but not annoying. This can be just as simple as a phone call every month or so to check in on the planning process.
Put yourself in the faculty sponsor’s shoes. They have taken on extra responsibility to help with this dance, and they are trying to organize a bunch of kids to get it done. See where they’re at. Offer your assistance with other vendors you know. Do anything you can to make things easier for them. Remember that dance planning isn’t a full-time job for anyone on the committee. Don’t be surprised when they don’t have answers for you. Be patient, but find a way to stay at the top of their minds.
Competition
Even if you stay top of mind, there is still an opportunity for competition to creep in. Think about how you got the job in the first place. Someone else was DJing that school’s dance before you came along. You have a leg up being the incumbent, but you still have to stay vigilant.
The best way to avoid losing your school dances to your competition is to block them before they even show up. Once you learn that someone else is trying to get your spot, it’s too late. You need to remind your client how great working with you was, so they won’t even consider another DJ.
Each time you make contact with your faculty sponsor, drop in a little bit of detail about how your relationship started and evolved. Remind them how much the students enjoyed your performance. Your skills are known; your competition’s skills are not. Remind them the work that you both put in to make the dance successful, whether it was background checks, payment approvals, request lists, contracts, whatever. You want to subtly point out that starting fresh with another DJ would take work.
And, finally, you should remind them that you were able to work within their budget, and that you are willing to work with whatever budget they have now. Tread lightly here. You don’t want to hint that you are willing to be paid less. You just don’t want them to go to someone else just because it’s cheaper. Say something along the lines of, “I know budgets can change from year to year.” Only add, “and I’m happy to work with you if needed, “ if you really get the sense that money is tight.
If you hit on all three of these topics at some point in your ongoing contact, chances are very high that you can block out any competition. Think about it: if you have already put in a lot of work with someone, they did a great job, and they are willing to work with your budget, why would you switch? You are emphasizing your incumbent advantage by reminding them of the pleasure of staying and the pain of leaving.
Note that nowhere in here did I mention slamming your competition. Don’t do it. Ever. First off, it’s just rude. No client will think more highly of you if you put someone else down. Secondly, our goal is to prevent them from even looking at another DJ. You have no idea who you are competing with. How could you possible know how you are better? If you do get any inkling of the school looking at another DJ, be gracious. Support whatever choice they want to make. Ask about what other offers they are getting, and be willing to provide the same. Many times, clients switch before they even know that you could do the same thing at the same price.
In Summary…
Those are my best tips after 20 years of playing school dances. If you came to work for me tomorrow, that’s how I’d tell you to work a prom, homecoming, Sadie Hawkins, fall festival, pep rally, or really any school event. You have to work hard to get in the door, and give them the best performance you have. If you exceed the school’s expectations and keep up on your contacts, you can create a stream of bookings that will last for years.
